Law firms keep up community work during Covid lockdown

Most lawyers may still be in lockdown, but reports of firms and their staff doing good in their community have flooded in to the Gazette.

Many firms who run corporate social responsibility schemes in support of their surrounding area have had to cancel fundraisers and charity events due to the restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic.

But creative ways have been found to continue doing work in the community despite so many staff working from home or even being sent on furlough.

The team at north west firm CFG Solicitors raised more than £3,000 for the Spinal Injuries Association by taking part in a virtual cycle ride. Last week, 22 members of the firm, together with some clients and other connections, cycled and ran a total of 250 miles in a single day.

A team of Capsticks workers in Winchester ran an ‘at home 10k’ for homeless charity Trinity Winchester, raising £2,500. On the same day, 100 others from across the firm ran 5km to collect £10,000 for the Trussel Trust. The Capsticks London office has also set up a project to ‘train’ older people in the community to use Zoom and Skype.

The client development at national practice DWF put together its own team to run 10km and raise money for the firm’s foundation. In celebration of the foundation’s fourth anniversary the firm encouraged people at the start of this year to make a pledge they would action in 2020. Staff have created the 2020 Pledge Relay, doing their own act of kindness and then ‘passing the baton’ to a colleague.

The serious injury team at Irwin Mitchell’s office sent around 50 food hampers to NHS workers and their families after raising more than £1,400.

Over in Manchester, the firm has organised a series of challenges to support local charity Mancunian Way, including a ‘dress for your day’ fundraisers and associate Tracyanne Ayliffe having her head shaved. The firm also launched ‘The Big Covid Clear Out’ – the idea being that as people may be clearing out whilst at home, they identify clothes to donate to Smart Works or books for Room2Read.

The Farleys Foundation, set up by the Lancashire firm, has made grants of £1,000 each to assist foodbanks and charities in the local area.

West Midlands and Worcestershire firm Waldrons Solicitors have funded care packages for any clients identified as particularly vulnerable during this time.

Meanwhile, north west firm Principia Law decided not to cancel its usual fruit deliveries to the office – instead the packages have been diverted to a local hospice.

*The Law Society is keeping the coronavirus situation under review and monitoring the advice it receives from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Public Health England.

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